ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Excellent research is strongly dependent on the ability of researchers and scientific institutions to conduct their work without undue outside interference and to freely choose their research agendas. The freedom of research is vital not only for the quality of research but also for the trust the wider public places in scientific institutions. As such, academic freedom and institutional autonomy are of fundamental importance and value to society and must be protected.

In most cases, countries in Europe have stipulations enshrined in national legislation or as part of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights that guarantee the freedom of academic research and the autonomy of scientific institutions. However, despite these existing protections, universities, academies, and individual scientists continue to be the target of increasing political pressures, and researchers are experiencing worrying infringements on their research agendas. Academic freedom and institutional autonomy are no longer self-evident in Europe and around the world, with grave consequences for scholars, science and society.

ALLEA strives to ensure that the public and policy makers are aware of the importance of safeguarding academic freedom. On behalf of its members, ALLEA stands up against unjustified infringements and intervenes with a range of actions, including mediation, statements and open letters, in support of academic institutions under threat over recent years.

Related News

On 2 July 2019 the Hungarian Parliament has passed a bill which will strip the Hungarian Academy of Sciences of its research institutes and thereby will transfer the academy’s research capacities to the Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) under the supervision of the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology.

In response to the ongoing and severely threatening infringements by the Hungarian government on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ALLEA has published today a statement calling to protect the institutional autonomy and academic freedom of the academy.

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Logo_Hungarian_Academy.gif226167alleaadminhttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngalleaadmin2019-02-15 11:48:072019-07-04 14:54:48ALLEA reinforces its calls to protect the institutional autonomy and academic freedom of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Unbenannt1.png564789alleaadminhttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngalleaadmin2018-08-21 11:31:262019-07-05 16:06:31ALLEA publishes statement on the inappropriate political infringement on academic curricula in Hungary

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/MTA_Székház01.jpg18783504alleaadminhttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngalleaadmin2018-06-25 13:33:132019-07-05 16:08:29ALLEA Publishes Open Letter in support of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Unbenannt2.png708708alleaadminhttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngalleaadmin2017-04-04 11:34:262019-07-05 16:38:22ALLEA stands with the Central European University

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Science_Academy_logo.jpg263589alleaadminhttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngalleaadmin2016-10-07 11:12:472019-07-05 16:44:07Science Academy Istanbul's Statement on Academics Dismissed from Public Service

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Unbenannt4.png525744alleaadminhttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngalleaadmin2016-07-22 09:48:352019-07-05 16:47:37ALLEA rejects the attempted coup d'état and calls for the Republic of Turkey to respect academic freedom and autonomy

Related Publications

https://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Cover_Akademie-im-Dialog.png590591Dino Tramontanihttps://allea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/allealogo-1-300x83.pngDino Tramontani2017-08-05 14:06:162019-06-18 13:29:42The Freedom of Scientific Research in the Face of Political and Societal Demand